GI Flashcards
A 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding is diagnosed with equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) based on gastroscopic examination. The veterinarian is considering adding a probiotic containing Lactobacillus species to the treatment regimen. Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding the use of Lactobacillus probiotics in horses with gastric ulcers?
A) Lactobacillus probiotics have been conclusively proven to cure EGGD within two weeks of treatment.
B) Studies show that Lactobacillus probiotics reduced non-glandular ulcer severity after four weeks of treatment in horses on a high-concentrate diet.
C) Lactobacillus species are not found naturally in the equine gastric microbiome.
D) The abundance of Lactobacillus in gastric fluid samples is significantly higher in horses with severe EGGD compared to those without EGGD.
Correct answer: B) Studies show that Lactobacillus probiotics reduced non-glandular ulcer severity after four weeks of treatment in horses on a high-concentrate diet.
ACVIM 24
disrupted mucosa in EGGD compared to normal pyloric mucosa in horses without EGGD.16 The exact reason why Lactobacillus was found in abundance in lesions biopsied is unknown, but the Lactobacillus in the gastric juice might preferentially colonize disrupted mucosa and inhibit invasion of pathogenic bacteria and facilitate healing by angiogenesis and upregulating epithelial growth factor, which was shown in rat studies.
there were modest differences in the microbiome of mucosal biopsies associated with EGGD scores ≥2, when compared to EGGD scores of 0. This modest difference in the community structure of the glandular mucosal microbiome among groups might indicate a bacterial association with development or persistence of EGGD. These data support that the presence or absence of specific bacteria might be associated with EGGD, rather than dysbiosis
